Valpo girls soccer team rains on Munster's parade

MUNSTER | When it rains, it pours, and Times No. 4 Valparaiso poured on the goals in its 6-0 win over No. 10 Munster in a sopping-wet affair Thursday night.

Kate Johnson led the the Vikings (6-1) with a hat trick.

"I think everybody kind of enjoyed (playing on a wet pitch), actually," Johnson said. "Playing in the rain can be kind of fun."

Valparaiso got on the board first with a Johnson goal in the 11th minute.

"Andrea (Violanti) got the ball and gave me a great lay-up, and I just shot it," Johnson said. "I got lucky."

About two minutes later, Sara Tumbas let it fly from almost midfield. Mustangs keeper Joanna Pugh crept out of the net a bit but couldn't get to the ball before it hit the ground and subsequently bounced over her and into the goal to make it 2-0.

Kathryn Shoer added another goal with less than three minutes remaining in the opening period, and the Vikings led 3-0.

"We wanted to make sure that we were very strong right at the beginning," Valpo coach Rob Cespedes said. "We didn't want to give them an opportunity to come at us."

Munster (3-5-1) didn't take a shot until the 30th minute -- a free kick from about 40 yards, which Valpo goalie Emma Kurt easily corralled.

Cespedes said his team focused on limiting touches because of the weather.

"The fewer touches you have, the fewer chances you have to let the ball slip," he said. "You touch it too much, and you're going to give it to the other side."

Mallory Held notched another goal barely a minute into the second half for Valparaiso. Johnson scored again in the 43rd minute. Held assisted Johnson's last goal six minutes after that.

"(Johnson) had some really nice shots, great positioning," Cespedes said. "I can't say enough about her, just a great player."